𝑁𝑜𝑡 𝐴𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦 (𝐻𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑦 𝑃.)

~Chapter 39: Bombarda Maxima~

"Y/n, Harry! We just heard, Hagrid's back!" Hermione exclaims, grasping my hand and I rush off with her. "Come on, Harry!" He stammers for a moment before following after us. Trying very hard not to trip, the four of us sprint down the hill towards our friend's hut. 

Despite the cold, we keep running until we approach the home. We slow down and Hermione turns to us, gesturing for us to be quiet. I walk closure and peep through the window to see Umbridge standing inside. 

Clouds now speeding over our heads, perhaps we are to get ill weather. 

"I am ordering for you to tell me where you've been," Merlin have I not missed that voice. "I told you; I've been away for me health." Umbridge glances our way, the four of us ensuring to duck down. 

"Bit of fresh air, you know?" Hagrid says in his usual cheery tone. "Yes, as game keeper fresh air must be difficult to come by." Umbridge smiles sarcastically, "If I were you, I wouldn't get too used to being back or I might- I might not even bother unpacking." She gives Hagrid a wicked smile, and just as I open my mouth to say something, Ron places his hand over me. 

As she steps out the door we watch as she oddly sniffs herself and sprays a kind of perfume along her clothing, damn bitch. Then proceeds to spray a X mark along the door, as if that will ward away the scent. 

I shake my head, watching as she trudges back up to the castle. 

"Hagrid- Good merlin what happened!?" Hermione exclaims, catching sight of his face. It appears as he got into a fight with a Grindylow and the latter won. He quickly ushers us inside, refusing to allow us to remain in the cold, which I'm thankful for.

"Tea, anyone?" All of us except Hermione accept the offer. "Now lads-" He looks at us, "And ladies. This info is top secret; Dumbledore sent me to parley with the giants."

"Giants!?" I exclaim before he shushes me and I apologize, "You truly found them?" 

"Well," He places a thick cut of steak on his darkened eye, "They aren't that hard to find if I'm perfectly honest, their so big, you see." I guess that makes sense, a massive leg just wondering about, no doubt it's a giant. 

"I tried to convince them to join the cause, but I wasn't the only one trying to win em over." He presses the slab of meat to his eye again. Of course, Voldemort is trying to get the giants, the giants would be a large ally and not just because of their size. Meanwhile, Hagrid's dog barks at him, wanting to eat the meat against his eye.

"Death eaters?" Ron asks, and Hagrid agrees, "Trying to get them to joining, you-know-who." 

I'm exhausted of hearing about that blasted man. 

"How'd it go?" Harry sips his drink. "I gave them Dumbledore's message, suppose some of them remember he was friendly to them, I suppose?" He says, nearly questioning himself. Which, to be honest does not sound good at all. 

How unfortunate we can't just send a load of lenthifolds after the lot of them, perhaps a few of our problems would be solved. 

Hagrid's dog barks again, so Hagrid tosses him the meat. As the wind drastically picks up, the windows begin to rattle. I stand up, glancing out of the window, Hagrid and the others following my movements.

This can't be good, when is the last time we have gotten such weather during this time of year? 

"It's changing out there," Hagrid says grimly, "Just like last time. There's a storm coming, Harry, and we'd all best be ready when she does." 

Days later in the morning, I'm jostled out of my thoughts as Neville nudges me slightly. "Y/n... Sorry to bug you, but have you read this?" He shows me the recent paper, and I sigh, "I have, are you well?"